Career Paths: Helle Hammer, Cefor

In our special column this time, we are excited to host an interview with Mrs Helle Hammer, Managing Director, Cefor - The Nordic Association of Marine Insurers, who admits that working with the Nordic marine insurance market is a startling moment at her career; firstly due to the professionalism, secondly due to the international nature of the industry and lastly because she has the change to participate in discussions about safety at sea.

In addition, she encourages us to be open to new opportunities, learning and have trust in our skills; this is a special advice to all those young women who aspire a career in the maritime industry, Mrs. Hammer notes.

SAFETY4SEA: How did it come about that you joined shipping industry and your field of expertise specifically?

Helle Hammer: It was more of a chance that came along when I was looking for interesting new opportunities in the private sector after some years in politics. The opportunity to work in the marine insurance industry came after a time spent abroad and fitted perfectly with my previous experience.

S4S: What about your current job/ role most excites you and why?

Helle Hammer: A few things: Being fortunate to work with the lead Nordic marine insurance market, and learn from their professionalism and dedication to serve their clients. Second is the international nature of the industry. And finally, the opportunity I have to work on new risks and take part in discussions on how to improve safety at sea.

S4S: What is the best and what was the worst piece of advice you've ever been given and why?

Helle Hammer: Never burn any bridges and always assume what you do one day can end up on the frontpage of a newspaper. These words of caution are in particular important in politics, but can kill a career also in the shipping industry and elsewhere.

S4S: If you could give a piece of advice to your 18-year-old-self one thing, what would it be and why? What piece of advice should you ignore?

Helle Hammer: Say yes to opportunities, stay curious and believe in yourself. And ignore those whose only argument against change is ‘this is how we have also done it’. And this advice goes also to all those brilliant young women out there who wants a career in the maritime sector.

S4S: What would you like to change in the current maritime landscape and your area of expertise specifically and why?

Helle Hammer: We are looking at some megatrends, and to gradually take in what digitization, sustainability and changes in geopolitics mean to our industry is difficult but necessary. Regulating some of this is a slow-moving process or even not an option, and challenges the ability of the industry itself to adapt and constantly change with the trends.

Helle has more than 20 years of experience from politics and industry policies, including four years as State Secretary in the Norwegian Government and in various positions with the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association. She has been at the helm of the Nordic Association of Marine Insurers for more than eleven years, and holds a degree in business and marketing.